bumpkin

One school of thought, is that it is better to remember Hitler and the Nazi regime of 80 years ago, with ridicule, than to forget that sad period of recent history totally. From what we have seen, none of these current representations of Hitler glorify him or his actions. It could be worse, he might have been represented in the same way that many have glorified the terrorist and murderer, Che Guevara. Let people depict Hitler as a Telly-Tubby or 'Adolf' McDonald. It wont last !

Alternate to what ?

It is recorded that "Modern" banking was started in 14C. Italy, and these founding Banks quickly established a network of Branches throughout Europe, using such technology and methodology as existed at the time. Globalisation ?

I guess the nay-sayers of that age were fuming over their tankards of ale in the taverns, predicting an early demise of such an abhorrent creation.

Todays Banks operate in a much larger "known world", and of course, they use the latest technology. People continue to use the Banking system because, for all it's many faults, it remains a covenient way to conduct Financial affairs.

Those who believe otherwise can hide their wealth under the mattress and conduct their business with Gold or Silver.

What (and why) are the alternatives?

It will be a sad day when the Press do not report News events, however distasteful they are and when they may offend Thai sensitivities. This country has too much secrecy and face-saving. All countries have such sad events as this, it is no shame on the country as a whole. Shame would be in hiding it, and anything short of total Police effort to bring the guilty to justice. Thai media -- keep up the good work !

Cheap Electronics are not reliable and are poor value ! What an amazing discovery. Why do so many people have difficulty differentiating between Value and Cost ?

When it comes to appointing members of the government, we might feel some sympathy for the Prime Minister.

It is possible that the Prime Minisiter has a meagre and uninspiring list of talent to draw from.

Are there any countries in the world that are not under threat of Terrorist action? It is a "Fact of Life" in today's world. Civilisation is an extremely thin veneer.

Why do people on this web site continually put down articles in other Thai publications??

Does it make you feel better about yourself?

Does it make you feel superior or smarter?

I would like to see you people write an article in Thai

Guess opinions are like backsides, everyone;s got one ... but some are smellier then others

Pssst . . THE NATION is an English language newspaper,

One would expect that contributers to a Thai language newspaper be able to write articles in that language.

Or, have I missed the point you are trying to make ?

One point alluded to in the report, so much of which is questionable, is the importance of maintaining mangrove. This somewhat unattractive coastal feature has develped over time as the natural way to protect the coast. No man-made coastal defences can better it. However, it is incompatible with financially rewarding Coastal developments, so it is destroyed to the long term detriment of coastal regions.

I think Al Gore is on the right track that the time has come to refer to man made climate change deniers as socially unacceptable.

http://www.dailymail...ys-Al-Gore.html

Climate change deniers will be despised just like racists one day, says Al Gore

Former Vice President Al Gore believes people who are sceptical about climate change will be seen in the same negative as racists in years to come.

In an interview that was broadcast on UStream on Friday, Mr Gore said that in order for climate change alarmists to succeed, they must 'win the conversation' against those who deny there is a crisis.

Hmmm, Yes the McCarthyism of the global warmists indeed. Actually if you look at Earth temperatures over the 4 billion years or so we are only just flipping from a cool period to a warm period.

http://www.physicalg...mentals/7x.html

Climatologists have used various techniques and evidence to reconstruct a history of the Earth's past climate. From this data, they have found that during most of the Earth's history global temperatures were probably 8 to 15 degrees Celsius warmer than today.

According to internationally agreed standards, the world is moving out of the latest of very many Ice-Ages.

The statements and claims of the 'Global Warmists' maybe true, but they are a very long way for proving anything yet.

Looking back over the existance of planet Earth, there never has been a prolonged state of equilibrium in the world's atmposphere.

The so-called Balance of Nature is a myth. Evolution is a constant battle ground.

But, these facts are no reason for pollution from any industrial activity.

Think the Nation is being rather hypercritical over the PM English language skills, after all they can't write decent/correct English copy either.

Typically the articles are full of gramatical mistakes, mis-spelt words, and copy which looks like its been written by a 3 year old...

hhmm....... might be GRAMMATICAL, i hope that is not a mis-spelt word

Big Deal, so Yingluck pronounced a word wrong. The worse "gaffe" I have heard about is how the new minister of "tourism" of Thailand whose positon is to fly around and promote Thailand in other countries (appointed because of her connections with Thaksin) cannot speak the international language of English.

Actually, that would be the Foreign Minister Surapong, Yingluck's and Thaksin's cousin.

He's used translators during international discussions in English, despite having completed a Master's Degree AND a Doctoral Degree at two different American universities in English.

.

when you say 'Completed', did you mean 'Completed the Payments' ?

Same same. 99% of China, Japanese & Australia PMs don't speak good English if at all. It fact, most have worst English than YS. Yet they are SUPER powers.

Maybe in next PM acceptance citeria, Candidates should required to have a TOEIC 550 cert; just like in many semi-govt companies like PTT & TG.

Australia?

jb1

yes, of course OZ.

How would the real superpower CHINA keep going if the Ozzies didn't supply all the minerals.

Must be a quiet day if her slip of the tongue is the talk of the town

For political language gaffs i suggest

G.W.Bush - nuff said (and i won't even go into HRH Prince Phillip and his use of language)

BTW , , HRH Prince Philip is not a politician.

He is above politics, which make his comments all the more interesting as his remarks are not gaffes, but genuine expressions of his thinking.

He is not a mere, fork-tongued politician ...............

His thinking may be out-dated, but he has the intellectual integrity to 'say it as he sees it'.

As for GWB, well .............. (I dare not say, I am not HRH)

I'm no fan of her / her brother but what's the big deal here? Everyone will know what the intended word was and it's not her first language. You can bet your life she did better than ANY non Thai politician would do giving even a one minute speach in Thai. This just isn't a news story, just an incidental part of Clinton's visit...where any focus should be.

Your initial comments are correct. Her sincere intentions will be widely understood.

She was obviously welcome (overcome) by the significance of meeting an ex- US President.

But ....

English is the universal language of communication.

The beautiful country of Thailand has a population of about 70m, (about the population of London, England) and it's mother tongue is not taught in schools in any other country ( maybe 1 or 2 near neighbours ?).

Whereas English is the principal 2nd language taught in most schools in the non- English speaking world

Comparisons with politicians of any other country are hardly relevant.

Wasn't the rice pledging scheme was a giant bribe to win rural votes anyway?

Of course, but aimed at the rice mafia and their canvaser teams, as the payback for Puyais that delivered the voters to the right side. It was the rushed into practice 'Rice Pledging Scheme' almost implement faster than pro Thaksin initiatives.

Of course protecting the rice harvest of the most influential vote deliverers and party partners from "god's holy retribution rain' and incompetence driven floods, has backfired beyond possible worse case nightmares... and yet the rice pledging guys are still going for the gold one way or another.

Everybody gets a piece of the rotting pie.

But I'd surmise that 'some pigs are more equal than other pigs', because they delivered higher numbers of voters, so their 'fee structure' for the pledging is considerably friendlier than those who barely delivered a district, or not at all.

Wanna bet whether those complaining in the OP are in the later group?

Bejing has a strong idea to stomp out this gross corruption;

Convict them quickly, but legally and impartially,

and then shoot them in the head in public before football matches.

Seems this is the only way that the point has been driven home in China.

Not pretty, hardly nice, but it has slowed the idiocies there.

Sadly it seems Thailand would have little alternative choices to really

wipe out the vile abuse of public finances that is chronic and endemic here.

Let the flames begin!

The public displays of violence by the Chinese authorities have had little affect on corruption. That is not their purpose. The whole Government structure in that beautiful country is riddled with corruption or 'patronage'.

The reasons behind these public displays are firstly, to punish those who are not able to pay the requisite bribes for lighter sentencing,,, and secondly, designed to silence any impoverished 'whistle blowers' .

Corruption in China is alive and strong. As an institutionalised procedure, it is unlikely to diminish.

Alternatively, you can continue to believe the unbiased, State controlled, Chinese news media ! ! ! really ?

There must be some water experts here but it is doubtful they are the most expert in the world in that particular field. However they will be sure to have 'local knowledge' which would be necessary and useful to interlace with any solution. it is doubtful that any Thai can set aside his ego to work alongside the, (to their mind), inferior foreigner and actually give any value to the knowledge the more savvy foreigner might be willing to share. Xenophobia in this country holds it back dramatically. Unfortunately Thais do not appreciate how scant their real understanding and knowledge is in so many areas. (How can they understand properly until they experience and learn deeply rather than just learn and copy solutions without sufficient deep and real understanding of the underlying principles). Unfortunately Thais, on the whole, learn rather shallowly and since this is all they experience, cannot begin to understand the whole picture. Hence the whole way business and the country is run is rather immature, concentrating more on personal gain (financial and egocentric) rather than benefit to the whole.

Any water management plan has to be comprehensive and must of course consider all aspects including the effect on local bio-systems and the full ramifications of any solution. Social implications might include the effect on local farmers or communities which might lose a water supply or get in the way of the proposed route of some new watercourse. Obviously any plan has to consider those issues but in any advanced society there is an understanding of the greater good and it is certain any competent expert will be well aware of most of those issues and if not local would be open to learn the intricacies of the problems here in order to integrate them with the solution..

Will anything concrete be done about this problem? Thailand should expect a thorough and competent examination of the issues and a well thought out effective solution dealing with the expected worst case scenario together with a solid disaster plan should the actual worst case exceed the expected. I don't think the mentality of the people in power will provide that. It involves planning and a long term view - neither of which seem to be particular strong points of the average Thai psyche - come to that even the above average have difficulty. Worse than that would be using the flooding as a mask or excuse for usurping the national funds by kickbacks from the contracts that will inevitably be borne of the solutions that will be picked on the basis of graft rather than effectiveness.

The Dutch obviously want to get in to get the contracts before other countries but will it be the best solution for the country or the solution that provides the most kickbacks that become adopted?

I feel so sad for Thailand struggling with out of control corruption everywhere and scant effort to even bring it under control let alone reduce it. So sad.

Your point is well taken. Thailand needs to get serious about fighting corruption, or it's glory days are behind it. Most other countries in the region are making a serious effort to fight corruption (good examples being the chinese developer who was sentenced to death last week) with real anti corruption committees in Malaysia arresting officials weekly, and bringing them to justice, anti-corruption activists like Anna Haraze in India, major battles against corruption in Indonesia, and other efforts being made throughout the region. Thailand is left way behind in all of this, as they do not even have an anti-corruption committee, to any real degree. The fight never started. Zero effort is being made. The Thai government has not even had the courage to admit how much of a problem all the corruption causes. So, the battle against the flooding is going to have to wait. Perhaps many, many years of this kind of tragedy, before they push aside the robber barons, and greedmeisters, who helped all this to happen.

your reference to the Chinese developer sentenced for corruption,,,, maybe true, or, maybe he wasn't prepared or able to pay the appropriate bribe to the Chinese judiciary. The 'going rate' has gone up in advance of Chinese inflation.

Social conditions in Thailand ??? <deleted>! (read excuse for bribery or saving face because farang water expert knows more than thai politician)

The Dutch offer to sort out the water problems and these morons come out with this bs. Maybe the Thai government doesn't understand water management which has its specifics that play a far more significant role than "social conditions" such as a rivers and klongs having limited capacities and when these are exceeded lives are lost and industries ruined.

Spot on. After reading just the first paragraph of the article, it was clear that people here are not interested unless there are big kickbacks to be made. The Dutch are one of the least corrupt in the world, they don't know how to deal with that here.

"FY, we are Thai, we do not listen to foreigners, especially if you know what you are talking about."

Correct together with Switzerland we are on the top on non corrupt countries. But i am sure the Dutch help will also mean that Dutch companies help and that would mean income for our country.

Similar as Americans helping with oil, means work for the US too.

The social part i don't understand and i am Dutch.

mmmm ... pls dont misunderstand my motives, I am not anti-Dutch or anti-Swiss, but...... i think you might be passing opinion on NL and CH corruption based on the Laws passed in those countries. Each country has its own legal framework for 'what is' or 'what is not ' a corrupt practice. There is no universal standard. However, I do support your comments overall.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry about this article ( editorial) and the repies to it. The headline proclaims "long term planning " and the sub-headline talks about "water management " , but the OP is not about either of these topics -- although virtually all of the replies focus on these two elements.

This committee has been formed to restore economic confidence particularly with foreign ( mostly Japanese) investors. The committee is charged with the responsibilty of quickly trying to boost foreign industrialists' opinions of Thailand, and the future of foreign factories in Thailand. The only mention of the future and water management is to develop a plan to protect foreign industry in Thailand from future floods.

On the topic of water management Khun Virabongsa only says that he is sure that the Yingluck government will do a good job of developing a plan.

We need to wait for "long term planning" and "water management". For now the government is more concerned with keeping Japanese jobs here .

True, but............

International confidence in the Thai economic potential, will only come if the difficult problem af water management is addressed. And, if serious action is seen to be taken

There are other countries in the world where International Businesses could re-locate, without the problems that successive Thai governments perpetuate.

Are there any compelling reasons why Japanese companies should stay in Thailand ? I am sure many Japanese boardrooms are full of people scratching their heads now.

I'm also hoping (keeping my fingers crossed) that there is a proper approach to planning, hopefully including:

- A broad based respected and credible committee which is able to push greed, corruption and collusion to the side, to some extent (totally removing these factors is of course impossible).

- Developing proper / appropriate background & future assumptions.

- Proper study of the correct and applicable historical, current and forecasted weather / water flow / water volume data etc.

- Thailand's economic growth and hopefully incorporating a better (and if needed subsidized) spread of economic development and work opportunities

- Transparency, and proper community / public involvement and debate

- A step by step logical approach to all of the above, and enough time to do it well.

Am I asking too much?

Yes.

It will not happen.

To be effective, this commitee would need to plan for the future of ths beautiful country, and not just for the future of themselves or their Party.

To be effective, this committee should be composed of experts from around the world. Since when are Thai politicians prepared to admit that foreigners might know more than they do ?

To be effective, this committee must plan for a future beyond the political lifespan of current politicians.

I thought perhaps I was a dummy for not knowing what or who "Kaidanren" is, but a search of this topic and a search of thaivisa forums came up with only one instance, that being in this editorial. So, I still don't know--- not that it is that important, perhaps.

I just appeal to the Nation's journalists to do a better job of offering a little background explanation in such instances, or of identifying what an abbreviation might mean when used in an article: nominal journalistic standards.

Thanks for listening!

how about GOOGLE ?

No double standard please.

Poor people must have equal right to survive.

Rich bangkok people must share the pain, and take the water too.

Everyone must share my pain ? Whose enlightened philosophy is that ?

We must avoid the narrow-minded, politically blinkered view.

Increasing the flooded area just to share the pain, will NOT help Thailand's future prosperity

Very unwise of the Gazette to publish the details of the poison, there might be a few week souls out there who can read....

Highly unlikely !

They have never read about the high moral status of bar girls.

OMG I am shocked doe's this actually happen? I thought these women were lovely ladies that men flock from afar to take as wives. I guess if you want to take one of these women then you deserve everything you get. The reputation of Thai bargirls has been known for decades but fools still go for them and some actually marry them.

Well said ! Caveat emptor.

Let us hope you are right!

But the Dutch have controlled water,especially sea water for hundreds of years,

there is even a County in England (EAST ANGLIA) which was/is 6 feet below sea level,

which is now first class farmland,Towns and Villages,all reclaimed land by the Dutch Engineers,around 200 years ago.

The Dutch started this work,, in the mid 16th Century, but that early attempt was not too successful and the work was delayed by Political Warfare (English Civil war) . Thai politicians take note !

What some of the contributers here have overlooked is, that Flood prevention schemes are not initiated the day the rain starts. It is an ongoing project that is started at least 10 years before it would be totally effective.

Few governments from any 'democratic' country are much interested in such long term planning. So many populist politicians believe that Votes are to be had by short term hand-outs. That is their way to re-election.

(Did someone mention free computers for school children)

It takes real political and moral principle to embark on long term projects, which appear to have little or no short term benefit.

The high financial commitment is a great turn-off for politicians.

I hope Thailand's new government are 'big enough' to plan for their countries future, and not only their own.